Abdullahi Gwarzo, the former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, has revealed that his dismissal by President Bola Tinubu was politically driven rather than due to any failure in his performance. Gwarzo suggested that Nasiru Gawuna, the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Kano State, should have been appointed in his place.
Following his dismissal on October 23, 2024, alongside four other ministers—including Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Prof. Tahir Mamman (Education), and Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development)—Gwarzo shared his perspective in a BBC Hausa interview on November 9, 2024.
He explained, “I was surprised because I wasn’t accused of any wrongdoing or underperformance. As Minister of State, I worked under a senior minister who handled most of the ministry’s responsibilities. Before the announcement, the President informed me that Kano North had an excess of political appointees and needed balance. We gave our feedback, but it was ignored, which led me to suspect other motives behind this decision, as that reasoning didn’t seem valid.”
Gwarzo emphasized that, as the APC leader in Kano Central, Gawuna should be prioritized for the ministerial role. “If the position is for Kano Central, Gawuna, our 2023 governorship candidate and leader in the region, should be given the opportunity. If he declines, then others could be considered. Other states, such as Plateau and Zamfara, have seen their former governorship candidates appointed to key positions,” Gwarzo concluded.
